So, with all the latest comings and goings how do we think we'll do in 2021? In my opinion, we won't challenge the top 4 of St.Helens; Wigan; Leeds and Warrington. I see the next tier as being Castleford; Hull FC; Catalan. How Salford and Huddersfield will go after losing and gaining Ian Watson will be interesting. So that leaves us; Wakefield and Leigh. I think that if we can keep a healthy squad we can and should compete quite comfortably for a high mid-table finish and not be troubled about finishing towards the bottom. Or am I being too optimistic?

if we can steer clear of some of the bad injuries we have suffered in the past few years and a return to home fixtures we are in a far better position to at least retain a place in superleague 2022 and progress a few places up the table,this is our best squad for a while, saying that its a tough league and maybe 5 or 6 teams will be saying the same, more optimistic for the coming season though

As always I start off full of optimism, I don’t expect to be cheering them on at Old Trafford next October though I can dream. Eigth place will do me just as long as we fight for every minute on the park & upset a few of the contenders like we did this year with Saints & Wigan.
I think we have to trust the coach & the new board. I would have wished that the RFL would have had the nerve to leave the league at 11 clubs & promote the championship winner in 22 with no relegation, even add a team a year until we get to 14 clubs.
Anyway Happy Christmas to everyone & keep safe.

Im going to go straight in and say 6th!

I’d like to think we could have a proper crack at 8th. We were really poor this year just gone, even by our own less than brilliant standards of recent times. Although, maybe strangely, it was less frustrating than the year before. How much us struggling so badly was due just to again lacking grunt or the ability to handle it, and how much to a lack of quality more generally, I’m not sure.

We’ve signed a lot better, in prospect, than for a while - although I’ve said that before, I’m sure. We probably need Vete and Sims to both play 20+ games. Fingers crossed!

I'd have Wigan and Saints on there own, they were both easily the best two teams and gave both recruited well. So I'd put Warrington and Leeds innthe same bracket as Us, Cas and Catalans.

There is always a wildcard, could Hudds next year. I think you have grounds to be optimistic as your overseas players are big upgrades.

If I'm being honest, I would be happy, or perhaps content to finish above Leigh, Wakefield and Salford. So that would put us 8th.

Looking back at last year's recruitment, and looking at this year's, god we had a poor squad, this plus Mose gone pre season, Garbutt playing in one knee, Quinny out for most of season, Crooks etc etc.

So without doubt we have come a very long way in 12 months. The squad is night and day better. If we can have a decent bit of luck on the injury front, no season (or career) ending injuries then we could pip Castleford or even Catalans????

Then there is the Challenge Cup. Like 5 years ago, who knows, a decent run, kind draw and it's anyone's.

My predicted table

Wigan
St Helens
Hull FC (sorry but new coach could be the key)
Leeds
Warrington
Huddersfield
Catalans
Castleford
ROVERS
Wakefield
Salford
Leigh

Agree with a lot of that, except(unless my maths is wrong, which would be no shock) that would put us 9th, would prefer at least 8th, but prefer higher, but not the bottom three please. After the last few seasons any mid table would be an improvement, but as already said, we need some much better luck with the injury situation. Do not like the 3rd place option one bit and would prefer them to be 11th or 12th(see how they like it, and it might shut some of their keyboard clowns up) apologies to the few decent ones. I especially want our home form to be much better and to win the vast majority, and get the ground and the East Stand rocking again. Really like the signings so far, but what will be will be. Finger crossed for a better year. On second thoughts, 8th would be ok(ish), win all the derbies and then win the Challenge Cup. Yeah, that will do, then again I might win the lottery! Hope springs eternal.

There is NO way Hull will finish 3rd.

I cant see why not, I dont see anything to be affaid of apart from Wigan and Saints.

I'd say 3rd is open to quite a few teams.

Just can't see it Dave.
You have assembled teams with some class players over the years but fail more than excel come the Business end.
You also have an unknown first team coach in Hodgson so I would think the first month of the new season would be massive for you if you recon 3rd.

I'm not confident of 3rd, but its certainly not out of reach.

Is for FC pal, Maybe not for KR though

Salford have just signed Addy so.....Salford to be bottom for me. Both Leigh and Salford have a fair few Rovers' cast offs now.

As for us - it's the hope that kills you.

For us the cast has been a problem... but also the script. Rome wasn’t built in a day, need to be patient, focus on the future, potential, long-termism, sustainability, deference, doing things the ‘right way’. Salford have lived in the moment. I wouldn’t be surprised if Leigh do too. We need to start doing that. It has its downsides, but I miss the exhilaration, the urgency, the nervous excitement of not knowing... the hope.

The hope kills you (2019 felt that way), but the hope itself dyeing (for example, limping to a welcome early finish in 2020) is just a gentler way to drift away.

Let's hope your predictions are as good as the ones for 2019

You said no way would Hull finish 6th and Rovers would finish above us.

Hull 6th
Rovers 11th

Lots of big talk about power shift many an off season in the last few years, but when was the last time you finished above us?

As others have said 8th would be a good season for you, we are aiming for the top 4, different ambitions for the clubs still.

Merry xmas to you and all our fellow fans and a happy and prosperous new year to all,whoever they support.

SL usually splits into three separate leagues with Saints, Wigan and Wire top 3.
Then your looking at Leeds, Hudds, Hull, led Cats, and Cas
Then Rovers, Wakey and Leigh

If we can stay pretty injury free we could easily finish in the middle league but if injuries bite it'll be a scrap again.

So the losing 2019 Grand Finalists and 2020 CC runners-up aren't in SL this coming season then?

Good point. I reckon Salford should have enough to finish in the middle league BUT could be the team that drops into the bottom 3 though as you've made a lot of changes and a new coach too. Just my opinion

Appears to be the opinion on the FC board as well but I'm not personally worried about all the changes. It happens every year with us so nothing new!



On paper this is arguably the strongest Salford squad of the SL era and we have strength in depth across the park (slight worry in the halves and at hooker). Quietly confident there'll be at least 4 or 5 teams propping us up this season.

PS. Gallanteer always tips us to finish bottom so that's a guarantee it won't happen.

I've just seen your squad numbers announced and I may have to take back what I wrote, that squad should easily have enough to finish in the top half, I didn't realise you had such a good squad. You'll miss Evalds and Dudson but look to have a lot of cover now though. Watson seemed to get the best out of average players like Burke and Johnson so it'll be interesting to see how Marshall goes.

Evalds will undoubtedly be missed but Escare has similar qualities so should slot in well. And yeah Dudson has been great for us but he didn't play a huge amount last season so we managed to cope without him for a decent portion of the season. Hopefully Darcy Lussick will fill the void and we've managed to keep hold of Seb, who's a former SL Dream Teamer and a cracking player. If (and it's always a big if with a new coach) Marshall can carry on from Watson left off we should cause most teams a problem.

It does feel weird though as a Salford fan (we're generally a pessimistic bunch!) not going into a season worried about being in a relegation scrap and having *genuine play-off aspirations.



*I reserve the right to retract this statement in May when we've not won a game and Marshall has been sacked.